Director, Austin Energy Emergency Management

City of Austin•Austin, TX

1d•$121,600 - $156,300•Hybrid

About The Position

This position provides leadership and oversight for the utility’s Emergency Management Program, ensuring comprehensive preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities for electric generation, transmission, and distribution operations. The role is responsible for implementing strategic planning goals, directing emergency planning, coordinating training and exercises, and ensuring regulatory compliance and response readiness. The position serves as a key member of the Incident Management Team, collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, manages program performance and budgets, and supervises staff to ensure effective response during emergency activations and continuous improvement of emergency management functions. Job Description: Director, Austin Energy Emergency Management Purpose: Under minimal direction with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, this position directs Austin Energy’s (AE) hazards programs including the Department Operations Center (DOC), Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), training, planning, and response activities related to natural hazards and malicious acts affecting the electric utility.

Requirements

Graduation with Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Public Administration, Business Management, Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Engineering, or in a field related to the job.
Six (6) years of experience, including three (3) years of experience in a field related to emergency response or planning, three (3) years of experience in a field related to utility or business operations, including two (2) years of experience which were in a lead, supervisory, or management capacity.
Additional years of experience in Homeland Security/Emergency Management may substitute for education up to a maximum of four (4) years.
Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a Government, Management, or Emergency Management field may substitute for one (1) year of required experience.
Valid Texas Class C Driver License.
Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) by the International Association of Emergency Managers or ability to acquire certification within one (1) year of employment.
Knowledge of utility industry processes, practices, and operational trends.
Knowledge of regulatory processes and rules impacting AE.
Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
Knowledge of budgeting methods and systems.
Skill in handling extremely intense and chaotic emergency situations.
Skill in handling conflict and uncertainty.
Skill in planning, organizing, and monitoring personal and subordinate employee work assignments.
Skill in training and leading disaster exercises.
Skill in facilitating cooperative group decision making among diverse organizations and individuals serving on planning committees.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, and in making presentations to large groups.
Ability to deal effectively and cooperatively with a wide range of Local, State, and Federal government officials, the news media, and private business.
Ability to use an equity lens and framework to create inclusive, diverse, and safe workplaces and community programs.
Ability to assimilate and act timely on conflicting, incomplete, and disparate information to meet overall objectives.
Ability to coach and develop subordinate staff.
Ability to understand and explain complex issues to non-utility stakeholders and to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.
Ability to analyze and resolve irregular events.

Nice To Haves

Utility Emergency Management Experience: Have led preparedness, response, and recovery for electric operations (gen/transmission/distribution), including storm, wildfire, cyber, or grid reliability events.
Incident Command System (ICS) & NIMS Proficiency (ICS-100/200/300/400, IS-700/800): Formal training completed and practical experience serving on an Incident Management Team (IMT) in Section Chief and/or Command Staff roles.
Emergency Planning & Exercise Design Leadership: Built and maintained Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), Continuity of Operations (COOP), and conducted HSEEP-aligned tabletop and full-scale exercises.
Regulatory & Standards Competence for Utilities: Working knowledge of FEMA/DOE guidance, state utility commission requirements, NERC reliability standards related to emergency preparedness, and OSHA considerations.
Cross-Functional Stakeholder Coordination: Proven collaboration with internal operations (generation, Transmission & Distribution system ops), external agencies (city/county/state EM, mutual aid, vendors), and public information teams.
Program & Budget Management: Managed emergency management program portfolios (training, equipment, technology), set KPIs, tracked performance, and managed budgets.
Leadership & Staff Management: Experience supervising Emergency Management staff and overseeing high‑pressure activations, including driving measurable continuous‑improvement efforts.

Responsibilities

Oversees and directs the development of short- and long-term Emergency Management planning goals and objectives for the department, including operations and services provided, with a focus on response functions needed to provide electric services.
Develops, implements, and monitors the Incident Command System and Emergency Operations Plans, as required by or in consideration of Federal, State, and Local regulations and requirements.
Functions as AE Incident Commander in their absence during event activation.
Coordinates post-emergency after-action reviews and makes recommendations for corrective action.
Develops, implements, and conducts training programs, seminars, and disaster exercises, with a focus on electric system emergency events including manual load shed, black start restoration, hot or cold weather events, cyber and physical critical infrastructure attacks.
Ensures operational readiness of various communication systems, resource supplies, and other emergency response tools.
Maintains and oversees the electric utility critical load registration process, periodic review, and critical load list in accordance with department policy and applicable regulatory requirements.
Oversees and coordinates the development of programs to receive and provide mutual aid assistance.
Coordinates and collaborates with multiple stakeholders on interdepartmental and interagency issues, projects, and protocols.
Ensures compliance with city, state, and federal government rules and regulations.
Monitors and evaluates program effectiveness and implements improvement strategies.
Prepares and administers the annual budget and associated financial reports, and identifies, as necessary, budgetary needs.
Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.